2010-11: Ruuttu played for Jokerit's U20 team. He scored 18 goals and added 13 assists for 31 points in 41 games. In six playoff games, Ruuttu scored 1 goal and added 1 assist for 2 points. Chosen in the third round (68th overall) of the 2011 KHL Draft by Dinamo Riga he was ranked 16th among European skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings after being 41st in the mid-term rankings. Phoenix selected Ruuttu in the second round (51st overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft.

2011-12: Ruuttu saw limited ice time in 13 games with Jokerit in Finland's SM-Liiga – splitting most of the season between Kiekko-Vantaa in the Finnish second league (Mestis) and Jokerit's U20 team. He represented Finland in a championship tournament for the first time at the 2012 U20 World Junior Championship. Ruuttu scored once and was an even plus/minus with 4 penalty minutes in SM-Liiga play. He scored 2 goals with 7 assists and was minus-four with 4 penalty minutes in 20 Mestis games and was scoreless and minus-five with 2 penalty minutes in four playoff games for Kiekko-Vantaa. Ruuttu scored 6 goals with 10 assists in 13 games for Jokerit U20 during the regular season. Jokerit captured the U20 silver medal and in eight playoff games Ruuttu scored 1 goal with 1 assist and had 6 penalty minutes. Playing on the highly effective third line for fourth-place Finland, he scored 3 goals at the WJC and was an even plus/minus in seven games.

Talent Analysis

A two-way winger with good speed, Ruuttu is a prototypical Finnish prospect in that he is a defense-first type player. Has shown glimpses of his offensive potential in the Finnish junior league and should continue to progress that area of his game.

Future

Having played a limited role in his SM-Liiga career with Jokerit, Ruuttu’s professional career remains a work in progress. At this point he projects to be a third line, grinding/speedy winger as an NHLer.

Photo: Arizona’s 2011 first-round pick Connor Murphy has developed into an NHL defender, as well as a consistent blueliner for Team USA (courtesy of Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

The 2010-11 season produced a playoff berth for the Phoenix Coyotes, but one that ended poorly, in a sweep at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings. With that bitter defeat in mind, and having conceded 18 goals in those four games, toughness seemed to be the foremost goal at the draft table. The offensive flair the Coyotes have added in recent years is missing, but some of these players have indeed gone on to help the franchise’s cause.

Photo: Finnish forward Alexander Ruuttu has yet to break through in the SM-liiga, but after a mid-season trade from Jokerit to Ilves, he could get a bigger shot in 2013-14 (courtesy of Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

Thanks to most of their NCAA prospects recently making the jump to professional hockey, the Phoenix Coyotes do not have a large number of European and collegiate prospects. Fortunately for them, the ones they do have continue to get better with each passing season. From adjusting in their freshman seasons to being introduced to the European professional leagues, most of these prospects enjoyed successful seasons in 2012-13.

Photo: Oscar Lindberg, shown here representing Sweden at the 2011 World Junior Championships, is off to a hot start with Skelleftea in the Swedish Elite League. (courtesy of Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

Welcome to the December 2012 edition of On the Rush, a monthly column featuring prospects at various competition levels who are either exceeding expectations or falling a little behind. This month’s edition features several players who will represent their country in the 2013 World Junior Championships. We also feature several players who, while posting decent numbers at their respective levels of competition, have fallen short of expectations through the first few months of the 2012-13 season.

Photo: Defenseman Connor Murphy, who will compete for a spot on Team USA at the 2013 WJC, is one of three first-round picks on the Phoenix Coyotes' blue line depth chart. (courtesy of Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Forward Andy Miele will again be relied upon as a main source of offense for the Coyotes' AHL affiliate Portland Pirates to open the 2012-13 season. (courtesy of Dustin Bradford/Icon SMI)

Although the lockout might cause some disappointment for Brandon Gormley and David Rundblad, two players on the cusp of full-time NHL duty, there is still the good news of them being able to further develop their high-level skills in the AHL. Gormley and Rundblad along with fellow Phoenix Coyotes prospects playing in the Europe, junior and the NCAA still have a full season ahead to prove their worth as prospects, regardless of the situation with the NHL.